AT GOLGATHA
Three crosses on Golgatha's hill,
Three men for all to see,
Two thieves hung there and in between
The Man of Galilee.
A hostile crowd,
A hate-filled crowd,
Beheld their agony.
One thief condemned, and rightly so,
Railed out in bitterness,
"If thou ne Christ, come from that cross;
Now save thyself and us."
A jeering thief,
A sneering thief,
With sin, 'tis ever thus.
The other, penitent, ashamed,
"Dost thou not fear," asked he,
"To rail on one guiltless and good,
Punished like you and me?
He's uncondemned,
Yes, uncondemned,
In Him no guilt they see."
Then turning to the Christ, he spoke
Though racked with agony,
"When Thou dost to Thy kingdom come,
Wilt Thou remember me?"
That sin-sick thief,
Repentent thief,
Dying on Calvary.
The sorrowing, suffering Lord there heard
His penitential plea
And answered,
Thou in paradise,
Shall be this day with Me."
A contrite soul,
A redeemed soul,
Saved for eternity.
Just so must we, as sinners see
Ourselves, each lost, undone,
And like that thief, turn to the Christ,
The conquering Christ,
The risen Christ,
And take Him for our own.
author unknown